TNA Wrestling - Breaking Down the Bound for Glory Series
For the second consecutive year, TNA Wrestling is holding a summer-long competition to determine a number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at their biggest event of the year called the Bound for Glory Series. Twelve superstars will compete in a series of matches with the winner ultimately earning a championship opportunity at Bound for Glory on October 14th. Last year’s series was a star-maker. Robert Roode won the series and, while he ultimately did not win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Kurt Angle at Bound for Glory, Roode left the series as a main event star. Roode was not alone though in moving up to the next level. James Storm and Bully Ray solidified themselves as future main event talent with their strong showings. In addition, the competition saw Gunner and Crimson solidify themselves as future stars, Devon emerged as a singles star, and Samoa Joe reestablished himself by finding an edge he lost for almost two years before the competition. Will the 2012 Bound for Glory Series have as much of an impact in TNA Wrestling as the first competition though?
The 2012 Bound for Glory Series consists of a more star-studded lineup than last year’s edition. In 2011, four former world champions made up the twelve-wrestler field with two of those former champions years removed from the title hunt. This year’s field consists of seven former world champions with only one of those former champions really outside of the title hunt. The 2012 Bound for Glory Series field consists of Ken Anderson, Kurt Angle, Bully Ray, Christopher Daniels, D’Angelo Dinero, Jeff Hardy, Magnus, Robbie E, Samoa Joe, James Storm, AJ Styles, and Rob Van Dam. It is an incredible field of talented in-ring workers and interesting characters. Sadly, the stars have aligned for a Roode/Storm main event at Bound for Glory. Now, I am not complaining about the Robert Roode vs. James Storm match that has been the expected main event for Bound for Glory since April. It is going to be another great match between the former Beer Money members. However, with the outcome not in doubt, there has to be another purpose for the Bound for Glory Series in order to keep fans like me interested. I believe the 2012 BFG Series can do a couple of things that fans will enjoy.
First, the 2012 BFG Series can help elevate talent in the series. D’Angelo Dinero returns to TNA with a spot in the BFG Series after a six-month absence. A strong run in the competition with a few big wins could be just the spark needed for the Pope to return to his upper mid-card status from early 2010. Robbie E is a talented young man stuck with a horrible Jersey Shore rip-off gimmick. The fact that he has not been fired yet is a testament to his talents inside the ropes. The BFG Series could be just the proving ground to show that Robbie E is more than a comedy act in TNA Wrestling. Still young and learning, Magnus is one of the most physically gifted wrestlers in the company. While Magnus is a long shot to do anything spectacular in the BFG Series this year, I believe a few solid wins and good matches could help establish Magnus as a solid singles competitor instead of the tag team specialist he has been since 2009. Samoa Joe, coming off an outstanding match with X-Division Champion Austin Aries at Slammiversary, is another talent who could use the BFG Series to return to main event status. Last year, Joe regained the killer instinct and edge that made him a household name during the BFG Series. Then, he floundered until a tag team run with Magnus gave him purpose. I look at this as Samoa Joe’s last chance to prove his worth in TNA Wrestling. Attitude problems and clashes with management have hurt his stock in TNA. However, sloppy efforts and no motivation inside the ring have done just as much damage to the Samoan Submission Machine‘s career. The 2012 BFG Series is just the thing Joe needs to show his stock as a top performer in TNA over an extended period.
Second, the 2012 Bound for Glory Series can help some current feuds by either adding a spark or a much-needed distraction. This year’s field features men currently involved in feuds with others outside of the BFG Series. The potential is there to add new twists to these current rivalries. Take, for instance, Bully Ray. The Bully Ray/Joseph Park/Abyss rivalry can finally add intensity to it via Bully Ray blaming losses on annoyances and interference from Park and Abyss. Intensity is one element their feud has severely lacked. Meanwhile, the BFG Series could be the distraction finally needed to lessen AJ Styles’ involvement in the seemingly endless and pointless affair storyline between Styles and TNA President Dixie Carter. What started as an intense feud based on professional jealousy between Styles and Christopher Daniels, the Styles/Daniels rivalry devolved into tediousness thanks to the angle turning into the AJ Styles/Dixie Carter affair. Nobody likes this affair angle outside of Carter herself apparently. A TNA World Tag Team Championship victory with Kurt Angle at Slammiversary was the first step in the right direction to move Styles away from this pointless angle. A strong run in the BFG Series could finally return AJ Styles to main event star form. In addition, Christopher Daniels could continue his solid work of the last year with a great run in the BFG Series. If the series helps lead to a quick end to Dixie Carter’s time as a focal point of the company, it will be a success.
Third, the 2012 Bound for Glory Series could give some superstars a much-needed purpose. For months, four men have remained in the TNA World Heavyweight Championship picture but have not captured the gold nor truly been a part of a solid feud. At least the series gives Ken Anderson, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, and Rob Van Dam a purpose for their matches. While the four have continued to have outstanding matches with everyone they have faced, neither have really been part of a memorable angle since Lockdown. The BFG Series can provide just the storyline motivation for their efforts.
I am a huge fan of the “Tennessee Cowboy” James Storm. That is what makes the long-term plans for Storm and Roode and Bound for Glory a double-edged sword. The match is going to be outstanding. Their rivalry has been nothing short of epic thus far. Sadly, with the plans for Storm vs. Roode seeming right, it makes the Bound for Glory Series so pointless because it is only going to line up 11 competitors for James Storm to run through on his way to a championship match in October. I hope what I outlined earlier comes to fruition for the other 11 men involved in the 2012 Bound for Glory Series. This competition can build James Storm’s momentum and elevate the other men involved at the same time.
TNA Wrestling has a lasting legacy of poorly executing easy ideas that would benefit the entire company. However, this seems like a slam-dunk that even TNA Wrestling at their worst could not mess up. It is going to be a very interesting summer for the fans and the wrestlers involved. The Bound for Glory Series is back. With the most star-studded field in its brief history, the potential is here for TNA to do plenty of good for many superstars over the next three months.
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